The team members, who represented the UST College of Commerce and Business Administration, bested 15 teams form other colleges and universities in the Philippines. 

Meanwhile, the coaches who guided the team were Department of Marketing Management Chair Mr. Francis Lawrence B. de Jesus, PhD, Mr. Antonio Jr. E. Etrata, MBA, and Ms. Abigail Posadas. Moreover, the team also received coaching support from notable alumni, namely Mr. Peter Rico Wong, Mr. Jim Kenneth Lazam, and Mr. Christian Dave Marcaida.

The theme of the 29th AGORA Youth Awards was “Brilliance Still Shines”, in conjunction with AGORA’s 41st year.

A collaboration between the academe and affiliate organizations for marketing students, the Philippine Marketing Association holds the AGORA Youth Awards to recognize the best marketing students for the school year, offering the country’s future marketers with the chance to show their ability to apply knowledge and theory to actual business cases.

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There were 140 groups during the first elimination, which was trimmed down to twelve and then six. The final six groups were given 6 minutes each to deliver a presentation about their business plan. The judges were: Mr. Mark Yu, CFA, President and CFO of SEAOIL, President of Novel Capital, Inc.; Ms. Cristalle Belo, Managing Director of Belo Medical Group and Belo Essentials; Mr. Patrick Pasengco, Co- founder of the Philippine Vending Corporation; Ms. Sheila Ramos, Chairperson of GSEA Philippines, Director of ROI Corp. Investments; and Ms. Victoria Jardiolin, President of Natasha Clothing.

They were given a cash prize of Php 50,000.00 and a guaranteed a slot in the Entrepreneurs’ Organization Global Student Entrepreneur Awards (EO GSEA). This is the premier global competition for 1,700 student entrepreneurs from 30 countries who actively run a business. The Global Finals will be held on May 2016 in Bangkok, Thailand. 

“Project Mushroom” was the business plan presented by Ms. Dela Cruz, Mr. Caasi and Ms. Abrenica. Project Mushroom is intended to help uplift the country’s agribusiness by using fresh mushrooms for value-added products, such as food seasoning and canton noodles. The group believes that the Philippines is rich in biodiversity, so they included in their business plan the sourcing out mushrooms, not only from privately-owned farms, but also from the local cooperative in Siniloan, Laguna. The development of the cooperative can address the livelihood concerns of the local farmers and unemployed housewives. 

The group emphasized on three factors: profit, planet and people. The community, though working on a limited capital, can increase their profit through the promotion of agribusiness.  Since agricultural materials are used, specifically mushrooms, this will help lessen industrial wastes, thus contribute to the improvement of the planet’s condition. This business will also uplift the lives of the people in the community through employment. 

When asked what motivated them to pursue this business plan, the group emphasized about corporate social responsibility.  This is their way to contribute a worthwhile act to society and that even as students, they can contribute in improving the lives of our countrymen.

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